Which Chargers' player do you want on the Panthers?

Two of 2016’s most painful bad luck stories are set to meet this Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. On one side you have the reigning NFC champion Carolina Panthers, whose high-profile injuries and five crushing defeats of three points or less have wiped them nearly clean from playoff contention. Then you have the San Diego Chargers, who have also been forced to endure some tough personnel losses and some late-game thievery at their expense as well.

But since the Panthers are a game worse and in a more depressing state, let’s just say the Chargers feel bad for them. They feel so bad, in fact, that they allow them to steal any player of their choosing and make him their own. (Seems legit, right?) Anyway, who would that player be?

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An easy answer, and this is just purely for the jokes, would be quarterback Philip Rivers. Not, again, since the Panthers actually need a quarterback because they absolutely, unequivocally, categorically do not. But you wouldn’t have to worry about Rivers committing a dress code violation given his fondness for bolo ties.

The easiest choice, though, would undoubtedly be defensive end Joey Bosa. This rookie phenom, for his ability to fill a need and likeliness to develop in a franchise cornerstone, trumps the likes of running back Melvin Gordon, tight end Hunter Henry, linebacker Melvin Ingram and even inactive talents like wide receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback Jason Verrett to serve as Carolina’s free grab in this scenario.

While the Panthers’ pass rush is actually one of the league’s best at face value, ranking second overall with 34.0 sacks through 13 weeks, they do not carry a surefire, bonafide stud at the defensive end position. We’re still waiting for Kony Ealy to break out, 10th-year veteran Charles Johnson may be in his final season with the organization and Mario Addison, the team’s leader in sacks (6.5), is best used as a situational weapon. Besides that, their lack of consistent pressure on opposing passers has proved to be a major and recurring weakness this season.

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Bosa would immediately help repair the issue. The 6-foot-5, 280-pounder, who has played in just eight games following a bizarre contract dispute, currently boasts 5.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 42 quarterback pressures. His 1.6 defensive hurries per game average (13 total) also slightly edges out Carolina’s leader in Johnson (1.5).

The Ohio State product is also just 21 years old and, obviously, in the first year of his rookie deal. Barring another difference in salary demands or an extension, that’s essentially five years of very affordable control.

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Unfortunately, this isn’t a fantasy land and the Panthers will have to try and stop Bosa this Sunday, not open up a spot on the roster for him. He’ll certainly be a point of focus for a makeshift Carolina offensive line that, surprisingly enough, did not allow a sack of quarterback Cam Newton in Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks.